The Reverend Monsignor Aloysius Kieran Ziegler was born on August 26, 1895 in Milwaukee Wisconsin to a devout German Catholic family. Ziegler had an extensive education that began with his studies at St. Francis Seminary where he was ordained to the priesthood for the Milwaukee diocese; he earned his bachelors in 1919. After being ordained Ziegler taught at the seminary and earned his Masters at the University of Wisconsin in 1925 and continued his studies at the Catholic University of America where he earned his STB in 1927; STL in 1928; and his STD in 1930. He also spent four years conducting post-doctoral studies in France at the Ecole Nationale des Chartes where he earned a degree in Archiviste-Paleographe in 1934; which followed with his appointment that year as an instructor in the Greek and Latin and History Departments.
In 1938 he was promoted to Assistant Professor in 1938, Associate Professor in 1940, and Ordinary Professor in 1960. Ziegler was also Head of the History Department from 1941-1961 and was Associate editor for the Catholic Historical Review, 1936-1957. Ziegler retired from the CUA faculty in 1966 but remained Dean of the Catholic Sisters College until 1968. He also remained as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Greek and Latin, until 1977. The unique aspect of Monsignor Ziegler is the fact that he was a renowned scholar in Medieval History as well as Latin, and was known for his patient and prudent work as a director of dissertation research and his reviews and editorial work.
Monsignor Ziegler was also well known as a man deeply devoted to his priestly duties. This was seen with his work as Chaplain for Trinity College and as Chaplain and Moderator of the National Federation of Catholic College Students, NFCCS. Pope John XXIII elevated him to the rank of Domestic Prelate in 1959 for his extensive work. Monsignor Ziegler's health declined rapidly during the last two years of his life forcing him to move into St. Anne's Home for the Elderly in Milwaukee in 1977, where he died on July 13, 1979 at the age of 83. Overall, Monsignor Ziegler will be remembered as a gifted scholar, administrator, and priest.
The Aloysius Kieran Ziegler Papers consists of seven series that is divided into ten boxes. The first series contains Ziegler's personal correspondence and personal papers. This includes correspondence with fellow academics, relatives, and religious. Also, included in this series are Ziegler's personal financial records and prayer cards for deceased friends and family. The second series is correspondence from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Catholic University. Most of this correspondence concerns students of Ziegler's and administrative correspondence.
The third series is History Department correspondence. Most of this correspondence is administrative but includes correspondence with different historical societies and organizations that Ziegler belonged to or had a working relationship with through the department. There is also correspondence with faculty members within the department as well as administration such as the Rector's Office and the Dean of Arts and Sciences. The fourth series are a collection of the best student papers and copies of exams. These student papers and exams are from undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students within the history department.
The fifth series of this collection is research that Ziegler had conducted through the years; most of this research is handwritten on note cards or half sheets of paper. Most of this research is on Medieval French Church manuscripts as well as Latin translation research on the Vulgate Bible. The Sixth series of this collection contains all correspondences and reports from Ziegler's time as Chaplain and Regional Moderator for the National Federation of Catholic College Students. The last series are publications that Ziegler collected over the years. Many of the publications that Ziegler collected were newspaper clippings of news within the American Catholic Church from the 1920s-1960s. There are also booklets and pamphlets from the NCWC on education and American Civics. Another part of the publications collected were book reviews of colleagues. Lastly, there are personal photos and postcards as well that Ziegler collected. Overall, the Aloysius Kieran Ziegler Papers is a collection of his personal papers as a historian, Latin Scholar, and administrator.
Series 1: Personal Correspondence, 1916-1975, Box 1
Series 2: Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Files/Catholic Encyclopedia Notes, 1929-1961, Box 1
Series 3: History Department Correspondence, 1932-1969, Boxes 1-2
Series 4: Student Papers and Examinations, 1923-1942, Box 3
Series 5: Research Notes, 1924-1952, Boxes 3-4
Series 6: National Federation of Catholic College Student Files, 1946-1955, Boxes 5-9
Series 7: Publications and Photos, 1929-1968, Boxes 9-10
None.
This record series is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.
Originally donated to Catholic University by Ziegler through the Rare Books Department with his personal library donation in 1977. Zielger's personal papers were donated to the Catholic University Archives on March 27, 1981 by the Rare Books Department.
Processing completed in 2012 by Raymond Moore. EAD markup completed in 2012 by Raymond Moore.
This series contains Ziegler's personal correspondence with various academics, friends, and religious. This series also contains financial records of Ziegler's and personal newspaper clippings from family members. There are also prayer cards from different relatives and friends that have passed away.
Includes a prayer card from St. Ann's Seminary in Milwaukee
Correspondence with Merrill Lynch firm
Financial records; includes utility bills, medical, health, and life insurance bills
hand written
Handwritten and typed correspondence with various academics
Seminary correspondence
Includes correspondence with insurance company
With Civil Service Commission
Includes French correspondence
This series contains administrative correspondence with the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at CUA. This includes academic notes and notes from Ziegler's time as Associate Editor of the Catholic Encyclopedia. These academic notes are notes taken for Graduate courses that Ziegler taught, and research notes with students of his.
Resolutions that Ziegler proposed and voted on in the Graduate program.
Includes correspondence from when Ziegler was a Graduate Student.
This series is correspondence relating to Ziegler's years as a member of the History Department's faculty at CUA. Most of the correspondence is administrative from his tenure as chair of the department from 1941-1961. There is also correspondence with other faculty members and CUA administration such as the Rector's office. Lastly, there is correspondence with different organizations that had a working relationship with the History department.
This is general administrative correspondence between department faculty members
Correspondence with other academics outside CUA
Correspondence with individual students within the department
Correspondence with CUA administration such as the Rector's office and the Dean of Arts and Sciences.
Correspondence with different organizations that had a working relationship with the history department such as the Knights of Columbus and the NCWC Education Department.
Correspondence with Dr. Francis Cassidy and Vice Rector Msgr. McDonald concerning Dr. Cassidy.
Also extensive correspondence with Dr. Purcell
Correspondence relating to content discussed on the Catholic Hour, with other Canon Lawyers and Canon Law academics.
Letters addressed to Ziegler's students and their replies
History Department correspondence, varied
This is a collection of student papers that Ziegler believed were exceptional in the undergraduate and graduate courses he taught. There are also copies of different examinations he gave through the years in his classes.
Typed lecture notes
A student essay about German nuns during the Middle Ages
Several examples of Charlemagne essays written for Ziegler's class
handwritten
Copies of exams from Ziegler's courses
This series contains Ziegler's research notes for lectures, articles, and general historical research that he conducted during his career. Many of his notes are from his years earning his graduate degree and his doctorate. Also, some of the notes are Latin research that he conducted on the Vulgate bible. The rest of his research is historical research pertaining to the French Church during the Middle Ages.
These are all handwritten half sheet/note cards of notes that Ziegler made
Various Medieval history notes, handwritten and typed
Also included is a draft of an article Ziegler wrote on this subject
All notes on Ziegler's sources include note cards and a typed list of general sources used in his graduate research.
Handwritten and typed translations
General research notes that are handwritten and typed, Medieval French history
Liturgical Latin notes
Liturgical Latin notes
Research on the Latin translations of the Vulgate Bible
Research on the Latin translations of the Vulgate Bible
Outline to an article written by Ziegler
Handwritten notes
Handwritten analytical notes
Handwritten and typed notes
Handwritten notes
This series contains all correspondence, reports, and general files from the National Federation of Catholic College Students (NFCCS). Ziegler served as both chaplain and regional moderator for the organization. Most of these files are his personal correspondence and reports concerning his position within the NFCCS. There are also some general files from the organization such as organizational newsletters and newspapers.
Includes general files on this department, mainly instructional
Minutes are from regional meetings
News on world affairs and positions from the NFCCS on these world issues
General correspondence and resolutions
Includes minutes and resolutions
Selected copies of the newsletter
General minutes and resolutions
General minutes and resolutions
Commission chaired by Ziegler
Correspondence with the NFCCS concerning this commission and resolutions passed by the commission.
Includes minutes and resolutions
Includes minutes and resolutions
Includes minutes and resolutions
From national meeting of moderators
Mainly reports from the National Congress
Mainly reports from the National Congress
A small collection of various resolutions and policies passed by the NFCCS
Liturgical reports
Ziegler correspondence with other Moderators and members of NFCCS
General Chaplain and Moderator correspondence
General minutes, resolutions, and correspondence concerning the congress
This series is a collection of publications and personal photos. The personal photos were taken around the 1920's with Ziegler's family and his travels to France. The publications include academic journals on Medieval history, book reviews, and academic journal articles on religious matters. Ziegler also collected clippings from various newspapers and magazines on religious issues and Church related news.
Clippings from St. John's
Newspaper clippings on religious news such as a prayer service in congress
Academic booklets on theology
Includes a Latin manuscript copy of Biblioteche Nationale
Booklets on Catholic education techniques
Fourteen booklets on Catholic morals and civic duties
Publications from the Catholic Intercontinental Press, concerning world issues such as the spread of Communism.
Student related newsletters
Booklets on Liturgical issues and Historical academic journals, including one in German.
Personal photos taken of Ziegler and his family, as well as his trip abroad to France. Also included are postcards he collected in France.
Unwritten postcards that Ziegler collected during his trip to France
Unwritten postcards that Ziegler collected during his trip to France as well as a personal Latin daily prayer book.